Released 40 years ago
Field of Fire
Richard Lloyd · 1986
40 min · 9 tracks · rock music
Gritty rock riffs intertwine with reflective lyrics, creating a sound that balances urgency with introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Watch Yourself — The opening track sets an aggressive tone with its driving guitar riffs and urgent vocals, establishing the album’s overarching themes of caution and self-awareness.
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Field of Fire — The title track features expansive instrumentation and introspective lyrics that reflect on personal struggles, showcasing Lloyd's lyrical depth and musical range.
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Soldier Blue — This song blends narrative storytelling with poignant melodies, illustrating the complexities of loss and resilience, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends gritty rock with introspective lyrics, showcasing Lloyd's compositional growth post-Television.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving rock riff in 'Watch Yourself' that sets a gritty tone, while subsequent tracks like 'Losin’ Anna' introduce more reflective melodies.
- Several tracks feature layered guitar work, with solos that intertwine with the vocal lines, particularly evident in 'Field of Fire'.
- The pacing varies significantly; after the mid-tempo opener, the record includes both upbeat tracks and slower, more introspective pieces, creating dynamic shifts.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gritty reflections on life experiences
- pacing that encourages thoughtful listening
- moments of cathartic release
- energetic tracks for driving
- contemplative moods with urgency
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat party anthems
- want polished production sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Field of Fire marks Richard Lloyd's first solo album after his tenure with the influential band Television. Released in 1986, it showcases his transition from the punk rock roots of the late 1970s into a more diverse rock sound, as he sought to establish his identity as a solo artist.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Television· The Velvet Underground· Patti Smith
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Watch Yourself 3:14
- 2 Losin’ Anna 3:00
- 3 Soldier Blue 4:06
- 4 Backtrack 3:10
- 5 Keep On Dancin’ 6:18
- 6 Pleading 4:00
- 7 Lovin’ Man 3:10
- 8 Black to White 4:42
- 9 Field of Fire 8:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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